Desmond Bane was mired in a shooting slump before ending it in spectacular fashion in the Memphis Grizzlies’ fourth game of the season.
Now Bane will attempt to follow up his best performance as a pro on Thursday night when the Grizzlies visit the Sacramento Kings in the opener of a four-game road trip.
Bane was a career-best 8-for-11 from 3-point range while scoring a career-high 38 points in Monday’s 134-124 win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets.
Overall, the third-year pro was 14 of 21 from the field after being a porous 13 of 49 (26.5 percent) over the first three games.
Bane averaged 9.2 points as a rookie before increasing his average to 18.2 last season. He is averaging 20.5 points and 6.0 assists through four games this season.
This also could be the season where Bane cements himself as Ja Morant’s long-time running mate. The two play well together and Bane continues to get better as a passer.
Morant also scored 38 against the Nets and is averaging an NBA-best 35.3 points per game. He also has outings of 49 and 34 this season.
The battle with Sacramento gives Morant a chance to go up against another solid point guard in De’Aaron Fox.
Fox is averaging 31.7 points and 7.0 assists and shooting 59.4 percent from the field. He has had outings of 36 and 33 points.
Fox had 26 points and 10 assists in Sunday’s 130-125 road loss to Golden State Warriors as the Kings fell to 0-3.
Sacramento hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006 — its 16-season postseason drought is the longest in the NBA — so the slow start is a bit concerning. But new coach Mike Brown isn’t about to subscribe to the “same old Sacramento Kings” chatter.
Giving Brown hope is that Sacramento’s three losses are by a total of 14 points.
Memphis won last season’s three meetings by an average of 23.7 points and has notched six straight victories against the Kings.
